Turkey's military has waged a cross-border incursion into Iraq, bombarding northern areas of the country with artillery and warplanes, the Iraqi government charged July 19. The claim comes amid mounting Turkish threats to strike bases of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been launching attacks against targets in Turkey from sanctuaries in Iraq.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said some about 250 Turkish shells struck areas of Dahuk province. "We have received reports that the Turkish government and the Turkish army have bombed border villages. The Iraqi government regrets the Turkish military operations against border cities and towns," al-Dabbagh said, adding that there were no casualties on the Iraqi side of the border.

Last week, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari announced that Turkey has deployed 140,000 troops along its border with Iraq. Also July 19, PKK guerillas blew up a military vehicle, killing two Turkish soldiers and wounding six others near the Iraqi border . (Press TV, Iran, July 19)

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